The fire started just after 1 p.m. on the 4500 block of Frankford Avenue. It took nearly three hours for crews to bring the flames under control.
Chopper 6 over scene of major fire in Frankford section of Philadelphia
The view from Chopper 6 showed flames shooting through the top of at least one building while black smoke billowed in the air.
Some 250 firefighters were on the scene to help fight this blaze.
The buildings involved were a mix of residential and business.
No injuries were reported, though one firefighter had to be treated for heat exhaustion.
Six people were displaced from their homes.
There was no immediate word on a cause of this fire.